Feeding mechanism



J. W. LEARY.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.H.1919.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

6 SHEETSSHEET I- Ei i 27 1. w. LEARY. FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION manAPR. II, 1919.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

6 $HEETSSHEET 2.

.lrllrlll J. W.'LEARY.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR- H 1 919. 1,413,038. Patented Apr. 18, 1922,

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J. W. LEARY.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1919.

1,413,038. Patented pr- 18, 1922,

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WXWM M 1. w. LEARY. I FEEDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED APR. II.1919.

1,413,038. Patentempr. 18, 1922.

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l. W. LEARY.

FEEDING MECHANISM.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1919. 1,413,038.

Patented Apr. 18,1922.

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.IAiv ns w. LEARY, or Hours. New YORK, assrenor. T0 AUTOMATIC PACKING aLABELING QOMPANY; or DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, A CORPORATION or NORTHCAROLINA.

FEEDING MECHAN ISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 1 8, 1922.

Original application filed October 9, 1916, Serial No. 124,646. Dividedand. this application filed April 11, 1919. Serial No. 289,378.

To allwit-0771, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMus \V. LEARY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hollis, inthe county of Queens and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Feeding Mechanism, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to an im proved feeding mechanism, and isdesigned more particularly for use in connection with materials whichare not susceptible of being handled by various force-teed mechanismsnow commonly employed. Certain terials are more or less adherent intheir nature, and are incapable of being handled and weighed with thataccuracy and precision necessary to produce packages of a given and u Torm weight. 7

The main object of the present invention is to produce a machine capableof securing such result, and with materials of the character just noted,well as with other materials. To thatend, a gravity feed is employed andthe feeding devices or mecha nisms are rotated or oscillated so thatthematerial is compelled to move along through such devices. Thearrangement is such that the material will bulk up in the discharge endof the feed device, thereby producing a bulk charge, and will produce adribble feed to deposit the exact weight in the scalepan after the bulkcharge has passed into the scale pan.

A simple embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the annexeddrawings, a twin or double machine being shown, though, as will bereadily appreciated, one or three or more units mar. be employed, asdesired.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ma chine, the discharge gate of therotary feeder being open and the scale-pan elevated and charge;

Fig. 2 a similar view of the lowerportion of the mechanism on anenlarged scale, with the discharge gate closed and the scaledi'lui'pingy Fig. trout elevation, with the flexible feed tubes orconduits omitted as in Fig. 2-;

Fig. 4 a horizontal sectional view, on the 5 and 6 are views of theoperating cams;

Fig. 7 a rear elevation, with parts omitted for the sake of clearness;

8 a longitudinal section of the dis- Fig. 12 a detail view, showing theadjustment of the parts when the discharge.

tube lies in a horizontal position,

Fig. 13 a detail vertical sectionalview on the line 1813'oi Fig.'7,Qillust rating the upper end of the flexible feed tube and thesupporting and driving elements therefor; and

Fig. detailview illustrating a modilication of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, 1 denotes the main or fixed frame of themachine upon which the various shattsand other operating elements findtheir support. The bulking and ceding chambers are designated by 2 and3, and inasmuch as the parts allied and operative therewith areduplicated, a description oi one unit will be given and like parts inthe other set or unit similarly numbered. I

The bulking chamber as shown takes the form of a cylinder, the lower ordischarge end whereof finds its bearing in a sleeve 4;, Fig. 8, carriedby a frame or casting 5, Fig. 3, supported by a cross-bar 6, secured inthe side members of frame 1. The upper or rear end of the chamber issupported by rollers 7, carried by a collar 8,.said collar beingprovided with a downwardly extending. L- shaped arm 9. the inner endwhereof is swiveled or'mounted on a cross shaft 10.

Said shaft finds its bearings in brackets are each provided with a slot13. A machine screw 111, passing through said slot and into the adjacentarm 9, holds the arm in its adjusted position with reference to thebracket to ensure proper alinement of bearing 8 and the lower sleeve 1of the bulkin; chamber under all adjustments of the inayhave adistending wire embedded therewhich will presently appear.

in, such tube being well known and frecuentl em 310 ed in con'unctionwith suction machines and the like, see Fig. 14. In fact, any tubewhich, by reason of its con struction will remain distendedwhile beingturned or oscillated about its axis and when curved laterally as shownherein, may be employed. The upper end of the flexiblc tube secured byaclainp 21, Figs. 1,7 and 13, to the lower end of a vei'ticallydisposedtube or sleeve 22,'said tube (see Fig. 13)

being provided at its lower end with an inwardly projecting lip 22, thepurpose of Said tube is rotated through a worm-wheel 23, securedthereto, the wheel being driven by a worm gear 24 secured upon a shaft25, which shaft in turn receives its motion from shaft 10 through asprocket chain 26. Shaft 25 is mounted in brackets 27, Figs. 1 and 7,which extendoutwardly from a cross frame 28, which at its ends issecured upon. vertically disposed fixed rods 29. Frame 28 is providedwith roller bearings 30, for the tubes 22, and collars 31 secured to thetubes, niain I tain them. in place.

A second cross frame 82, is secured lo the rods29 and serves to positionthe lower ends of the feed pipes or conduits 31;1ij11 the tubes 22, Fig.13.

From the foregoing; it will be readily understood that the chamber 3,tube 19, and

sleeve or tube 22 may be rotated, and the material being fed does nothave a chance to arch or lodge in the members, except as itisperiodically held in'the lower end of the bulkingrhambcr, as willpresently appear. The materlal passlng down through 131136 31 contactswith lip 22 and is retarded and in a measure temporarily supportedthereby. The lip tends to prevent the material from compacting andarching and acts in a sense as a stirrer,-so that the material is'inproper condition to feed. down through tube l9 and the bulkingchambers'inay be so arranged as to impart an oscillating motion to saidparts instead of a continuous rotary movement, which may be of advantagein the handling of certain materials. '60, too,

the tube and chamber may be driven; independently of each other, and onerotated or oscillated in opposition to the other, and an arrangementwhich will permit of these manipulations is illustrated in Fig.14,.wherein the tube 19 is provided with a collar19 atits lower endwhich extends into the upper end of the bulking chamber 2. A flangedsplit collar 19 servesto clamp the tube to the collar and also toprovide a connection between the partswhich, while per mitting separaterotation of the tube and bulking chamber, prevents endwise separationthereof. The upper end ofthe tube will be supported and driven inthemanner shown in detail in Fig.13.

The flexibility oi the tube, which is held distended by the spring, orby reason of the inherent construction of the tube, allows of readyadjustment of the bulking chamber,

the pitch whereof will be arranged so as to suit the material beinghandled, iree-run ning material requiring less pitch of the chamber thanthose materials which have a tendency to adhere or paclcup in theconduit, composed of the pipe or tube 22,-tube 19, and the bulkingchamber 2. Furthermore, the tube 19., by reason 01- the fact that itlies in a curve, is beingconstantly' dis tended and contracted, that isto say, taking a portion or space (iitending lengthwise of the tube, itwill be distended or fully drawn out when it lies in the lower plane ofthe tube, but when said portion reachesthe upper position it iscontracted and forms it.-

self' into a series of ridges and depressions,

or may be said to be puckered (see Fig. 1), which tends to loosen anyadherentmaterial.

The lower end of the bulking chamber is closed by a gate 36 (Fig. 8)said gate hav ing secured thereto a pin 3?, which is rotatably mountedin the lower end of anarin or lever 38, the arm at ts upper end beingsecured upon a shalt Said shaft is ournaled 111 a pair oflugs 410, Fwhich extend upwardly from casting 5, above the,

of the ma lies below the discharge end' of chamber 2.-

Said scale is sustained by a bifurcated scale beam 42, Fig. 4, providedwith a-rcarwardly extending arm- 13, carrying the usual adjustableweight 1 1'. I Stop pins i l and 1 1* extending outwardly from a fixedarm 44", Figs. 2, 4E and 7, serve to limit'the downward and upwardmovements of the beam, and consequently the movement of the scalepan."lhe scale is provided with doors 45 and a6, operatively connected bypin-jointed levers &7 and l8 and normally held closed by a spring 4-9] Alever 56, tulcruined on rod 5i, overlies the connecting pin 52 and actsto positively open the gates when the pan descends under full charge,the lever at such time being depressed tirough the action of a cam 58,secured upon a constantly-driven shaft 51-, the scale-pan at such timebeing held from further descent by the stop pin tr. Fig. 2. A radius bar55, connected at one end to the scale, and at its opposite end to thelower end of a dowuwardly extending post 56, serves to hold the scalesteady in its upward and downward movements. Said post 56 1s secured toa cross bar 57, which is connected to the side mebers of the main frame1, the 'bar also forming the support tor the scale beams.

Secured to the outer end of shaft 89, see Figs. 1, 2 and 9. is an elbowlever, one arm 58 of which extends downwardly and the other, 59,projects inwardly. A. pin 6i) extends outwardly from arm 58 and a spring61 connected thereto and to a pin 62 carried by the frame 1, tends torock the Shaft 39 and to hold gate 36 closed. The lower end of arm 58can" pin 63, which pr cts through a slot 64: formed in one end of a link64, the opposite end of the link carrying a pin 65. Said pin 65 extendsthrough the lower end otthe gate latch lever 66, which is fulcrumed on astud 67 which extends outwardly from the fixed sleeve l. A. coiledspring68 is interposed betwcenpins 60 and 65. A second lever composed ofarms 69 and 70 is fulcrumed on stud 67 the lower arm 69 being formedwith an elongated slot through which the pin 65 passes, a nut 65 mountedon pin 65 serving to lock lever 697O to lever 66 when the parts arebrought to the desired adjustment. Arm 70 is provided with a contactface 71, which lies beneath a roller 72, mounted on the outer end of alever 73, tulcrumed on a stub-shaft 74, extending from the frame. A link'75, pinjointed to lever 73, projects lown'wai'dly therefrom and isconnected to the scalepan 4:1.

To facilitate the downward movement of the s'calepan and to prevent anyfaltering in the movement thereof. and'also to allow the gate to closequickly when the pan begins its descent under full charge, lever 78 isprovided at its inner end with a contact plate or number 77. 'captedwhen the parts pass from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that in F 2, tocoact with a constantly revolving roller 78. Said roller is mounted onthe upper arm of an elbowdever 79, which lever, see Fi 10, finds itsbearing or s a laterally extending fulcrum upon a rotating shaft 80, theshaft carrying a pinion 81, which meshes with a pinion 82, to whichlatter the roller 7 8 is secured. A spring 88- secured at one end toapin 8%, see Fig. ll, extending outwardly from the lower arm of lever 79,and through a slot in a link and at its opposite end to a pin 86extending outwardly from the link, tends to throw the roller 78 into thepath oi plate 77 and through the contact to positively rock lever 73.This movement eilccts the positive downward movement of the, scale panand a release of the latch. Lover 79 carries a stop pin 87, which coactswith a stop screw 88. Fig. 1, to limit the movement of the lever.

lilotion is imparted to shaft 80 through a belt 89 which passes about apulley 90 on said shaft and about a pulley '91 secured to shaft 54-.

When the scale-pan begins to descend under load,'it draws the link '75down with it, thereby rocking lever and throwing contact plate 77 intooperative relation with the constantly revolving roller 78, which thenpositively lnoves the inner end of the lever upwardly and effects,through the connected link 75, a positive downward movement of thescale-pan. The movement of said lever 78 also the roller 72 to contactwith face 71.thereby rocking lever- 66 and withdrawing it trom a latchstud 76, secured upon arm allowing the gate to close under the action ofspring 61. In

the closing or the gate 36, asthe roller 72 releases the latch lever 66from engagement with the stud 76 sin 6?; en 'a es the inner end wall ofslot 64.1, formed in link 64;, and spring 68 then becomes ineffectiveand the urther movement of the lever 69-7O con rolled by spring 61,which at such time is moving the gate to its closed position, the lever70, and consequently the contact "face 71, beingmoved away from roller72 and brought to the position shown in l ig. 2.

Link 85 is connected at its upper end to a lever 92 fulcrumed on a shaft93, the free end of the lever overlying a roller 94 carried by the armAlink 95 extends from said lever to a lever 96 fulcrumed on red 51, saidlatter lever being operated by a cam 97 mounted on shaft 54.

its the scale-pan begins to ascend which time the doors 4-5 and .6 areclosed, lever 92 begins its downward movement. link 85 being moved downtl'iereby, and through contact of pin 8% with the uppe end of the slotin the link will rock lever 79 and throw the constantly rotating roller7 8 away from contact member 77 lever 78, thereby allowing the lever tomove independently of the rotating wheel. Lever 92 also contacts withroller 94 and clepre'ssesarm '59, thereby opening the gate and causingthe latch 'tion with stud 01' pin 76.

lever 66 to come into operative locking posii-ifter the gate is latched.open. lever 92 ascends, drawing link 85 urnvari'lly and allowing lever 79 to be the descent of the scale pan. This position of the parts ismaintained until the charge which was bulked in the bulking chamber isdischarged into the scale and such additional amount is dribbled in fromthe rotating bulking chamber as is neces- $21.1) to produce therequisite weight. The scale-pan then descends and the latch mech anism,the lever 78 and the allied parts are all actuated as above described.This cycle of operations is repeated, and the units pref erably, thoughnot necessarily, operate in alternation, one scale discharging and itsbulking chamber'bulking while the other chamber is discharging into thethen closed scale.

To prevent the material from scattering,

guide wings or plates 98 will preferably be "and latch mechanism isshown in its ad justed relation thereto.

No claim is made herein, either generically or specifically, to themechanism for opening and closing the gate or for causing the positivedescent of the scale, as that is set forth and claimed in my co-pendingapplication Serial. No. 58,688, filed on or -about the 29th day ofOctober 1915, now patent 1,283,227, dated October 29, 1918.

Furthermore, no claim is made herein to the Weighing mechanism inconjunction with the allied parts, nor to the rotary or oscillating bulkand dribble feed chamber, such subjects matter forming the basis of myapplication Serial No. 124,646 filed on or about October 9th, 1916, ofwhich this case is a division. 7 i

hat is claimed is: 1

1. in a machine of the character specified, the combination of a rotaryhulking cham-- her, the axis whereof is inclined from the vertical; aflexible tube one end whereof discharges into said chamber, whilethe-opposite end extends upwardly and stands in a substantiallyverticalposition; means for" supporting said upper end; andmean's forrotating said upper end.

2. In amachine of the character specified, the combination of arotarybulking chamher, the axis whereof is inclined from the vertical; aflexible tube one end whereof discharges into said chambenwhile theoppo- Site end extends upwardly and stands in a substantially vertical.position; means for supporting said upper end; meansfor r0- tating saidupper end; and a feed pipe discharging into said upper end.

3. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a bulkingchamber tubular in form; a feed pipe standing at an angle to thelcngit'udinal axis of the cham her; a. flexible tube extending from thepipe and dischanging into the chamber; means associated. with the tubeto keep the same distended; and means for moving the tube about itsaxis.

4-. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of abulking chamber tubular in form; a feed pipe standing at an angle to theaxis or the chamber; a flexible tube connecting the chamber and thepipe; and means for moving the tube about its axis. I 5. In a machine ofthe character specified, the combination of a tubular member. disposedat an angle to the vertical; a feed pipe; a flexible tube extending fromthe feed pipe and discharging into the tubular member; means for movingthe flexible tube about its axis; and a gate controlling'the dischargeof material from the tubular mem- V ber.

6. In amachine of the character specified, the combination of a frame; atubular member; a pivotal support forv one endlof said member; avertically adjustable support for V the opposite end of said member; andmeans formoving said tubular member about its QXIS.

7 In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a frame; atubular member; a pivotal support for one end of said member; avertically-adjustable support for the opposite end of the member; meansfor moving said tubular member about its axis; and a flexible tubeextending intothe intake end of the tubular member.

8. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a frame;a tubular bulking chamber; a support for the discharge end thereof,pivotally supported on the frame; a vertically-adjustable support forthe intake end of said chamber; means for moving said chamber about itsarms; a flexi- He tube discharging into the intake end of the chamber;and meansserving to maintain the tube distended.

9. In combination with a feed pipe; a bulking" chamber; a flexible tubeconnecting said chamberand pipe; and means for moving thechambcr andpipe about their axes.

10. In combination with a feed pipe; a movable bulking. chamberadjustable as to angular posit-ion; a flexible tube extending from thefeed pipe and discharging into the chamber; and means for moving saidtube and chamber about; their axes. I I

11. In combination with a feed pipe; a

tube-like chamber adjustable as to angularity; a flexible. tubeconnecting the chamber and pipe; and means for rotating said chamher andtube in unison.

12. In combination with a feed pipe; a tube-like chamber; a tiltablebearing for the discharge end of the chamber; a verticallyadjustablebearing for the opposite end of the chamber; a feed pipe; a flexibletube extending from the feed pipe to the intake end of the tube-likechamber; means for maintaining the tube in its distended position; andmeans for rotating the chamber and tube.

13. The combination with a hollow feeding member having a curved axisone end of which is higher than the other; of means for bodily rotatingsaid member about its axis to aid gravity in causing material by reasonof the agitation of the material due tosuch rotation to be fed throughsaid member in a. curved course.

14c. The combination with a hollow feeding member having a curved axisone end ot which is higher than the other and substantially vertical; ormeans for bodily rotating said member about its'axis to aid gravity incausing material by reason of the agitation of the material due to suchrotation to be fed through said member in a curved course.

15. The combination with a hollow feeding member havinga curved axis oneend of which is lower than the other and approximately horizontal; ofmeans for bodily rotating said member about its axis to aid gravity incausing material by reason of the agitation oi the material due to suchrotation to be fed through saidmember in a curved course. i i

16. The combination with a hollow feeding member having a curved axisone end of which is higher than the other and substantially vertical,the other end being approximately horizontal; of means for bodilyrotating said member about its axis to aid gravity in causing materialby reason of the agitation of the material due to such rotation to befed through saidmember in a curved course.

17. The combination with a hollow feeding member having a curved axisone end of which is higher than the other but lying in the same verticalplane; of means for bodily rotating said member about its axis to'aidgravity in causing material by reason of the agitation of the materialdue to such rotation to be fed through said member in a curved course.

18. The combination with a hollow feeding member of substantiallyuniform flexible material and having a curved axis, one end of which ishigher than the other; of means for bodily rotating said member aboutits axis to aid gravity in causing material by reason of the agitationof the material due to such rotation to be fed through said member in acurved course. 3 19. The combination with a hollow feeding member 01"substantially uniform flexible material reinforced by stiffening material arranged to prevent collapse of the flexible material withoutaffecting its flexibility and having a curved axis one end of which ishigher than the other; of means for rotatsaid member on its axis to aidgravity in causing material to be fed through said member in a curvedcourse.

20. The combination with a hollow feedv' 1g member of substantiallyuniform flexible material reinforced by stiffening wirecircumferentially applied thereto and having a curved axis one end otwhich is higher than the other; of means for rotating said member on itsaxis to aid gravity in causing material to be fed through said member ina curved course.

21. The combination with a hollow feeding member having a. curved axisone end of which is higher than the other; oi means 23. Tie combinationwith a hollow feed-I ing member having a curved axis one end oiwhichis'higher than the other; of means for bodily-rotating said member aboutits a, 's-to aid'gravity'in causing material by reason of the agitationoi" the material due to such rotation to be fed through said memr her ina curved course; and means for temporarily arresting the material fed.

2%. The combination with a hollow feed ing member having a curved axisone end of which is higher than the other; of means for bodily rotatingsaid member about its axis to aid gravity in causing material by reasonof the agitation of the material due to such rotation to be fed throughsaid member in a curved course; and means co-opera ting with the lowerend of the member for temporarily arresting the material fed.

25. The combination with a hollow feed ing member having a curved axisone end of which is higher than the other; of means for bodily rotatingsaid member about its axis to aid gravity in causing material by reasonof the agitation of the material due to such rotation to be fed throughsaid member in curved course; and a gate cooperating with the lower endof said member for temporarily arresting the material fed. 7

26. The combination with a hollow feeding member having a curved axisone end of which is higher than the other; of means for rotating saidmember on its axis to aid gravity in causing material to be fed throughsaid member in a curved course; and a source of material supply arrangedand adapted to discharge material into said member.

27. The combination with a hollow feeding member having a curved axisone "end of which is higher than the other; of means forirotating saidmember on its axis to aid gravity in causing material .to be fed in opencommunication with the higher end of said member. Y

' 7 ing member having a curved axis one'end of I "Which is higher thanthe other oi means 40 end of said member.

29. Thecombinationwitha hollow feedmg member having a curved axis oneend of which is higher than the other; of means for rotating; saidmember on its axis to aid 1 gravity in causing material to be fedthrough said member'ina curved course; and a .stat'ionary source ofmaterial located above higher and in open communication with the 30. Thecombination with a hollow feedfor rotating said member on its axis toaid gravity in causing material to be fed through said member ins acurved course;

and means for transporting material away from said member. V

31. The combinationwith a hollow feeding member having a curved axis oneend of which is higher than the other; of means for rotating saidmember'on its axis to aid gravity in causing material to be fed throughsaid member in a curved course; and means! for intermittentlytransporting material away from said member.

32. The combination with a hollow feeding member having a curved axisone end of which is higher than the other; of means for rotating saidmember on its axis to aid gravity in causing material to be fed throughsaid member in a curved course; a

source of material supply arranged and adapted to discharge materialinto said member; and means for transporting material away from saidmember.

33. In combination with a feed tube; a feed pipe discharging into thetube; means for rotating .the tube and I a lip extending inwardly intothe tube.

:.- 3min combination with a fe d ftubegia feed pipe discharging into thetubeg means for rotating the tube; and a lip extending into the tube androtatable therewith.

combination witha -feed tube; a

. teed pipe discharging-into the tube; means for rotating the tube; andmeans} extending into the tube below the discharge end-'ot the feed pipefor temporarily arresting the descent of thematerial being fed.

In testimony;.whereof have signedi'iiny name to this specification.

,; mainswgj iiaaar n

